Aerosol actuator cap construction



1964 w. R. ODONNELL 3,144,175

AEROSOL ACTUATOR CAP CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 21, 1962 IN VENTOR.

/ WillLam R. ODonmeu United States Patent 3,144,175 AERQSOL ACTUATOR CAP CQNSTRUCTIGN William it. iGllonneli, Trumbull, Conn, assignor to Valve Importation of America, Bridgeport, Conn, a corporatron of Delaware Filed Nov. 21, 1962, Ser. No. 239,270 4 Claims. (ill. 222-182) This invention relates to aerosol dispensing devices, and more particularly to the actuator means of small dispensnzgddevices of the type intended to be hand-held and opera e The invention concerns improvements in the aerosol dispenser actuator means disclosed and claimed in Patent No. 3,006,510, issued to Philip H. Sagarin, dated October 31, 1961, and entitled Aerosol Cap Construction. In this patent there is revealed a guard-type actuator cap construction comprising a finger-depressible button centrally disposed in a large or jumbo-type cap body, the latter having a cylindrical configuration and the top of the button being shaped (as by an arrow-like or pointed outline) to indicate the direction of the spray. The cap body has high peripheral guard portions surrounding the button to prevent accidental depressing of the latter and discharge of the aerosol substance. The arrangement further involves placement of the button in the cap body by insertion from the underside of the latter, which imposes certain limitations with respect to the assembly of these parts to each other and to the container.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an improved button and cap body assemblage which is to some extent similar to that of the patent above identified, but which involves a button adapted to be insertable at the top of the cap body instead of from the underside thereof, said assemblage being further organized in a novel manner to obtain an unmistakeable indication of the direction of the spray and to facilitate actuation of the button, and also to efiect a requirement regarding the button actuation, which absolutely precludes improper orientation of the spray nozzle and incorrect directing of the spray or discharge.

This is accomplished by providing a top-insertable type button with a laterally extending relatively wide orifice portion which reaches and terminates at the periphery of the cap body, such portion being fully accessible to view and being recessed or set into the body while the latter at the same time retains its high, surrounding guard portions which prevent accidental actuation of the button. Further, at a location opposite to the laterally extending orifice portion of the button, the cap body is provided with a deep and Wide finger-receiving depression, and the button is preferably correspondinglly hollow, thereby to present a combined finger rest and guide so arranged as to virtually.

require the user to employ it in depressing the button. The proper use of such guide results in the spray orifice being automatically correctly oriented or pointed, whereby the user cannot accidentally discharge the spray in a wrong direction. Besides the finger guide structure, which is a tactual means, the assemblage comprises visual means to preclude incorrect directing of the spray, this being in the form of the readily visible, laterally extending orifice portion of the button, which may have an attention-arresting color different from that of the cap body. Thus, in a single actuator cap construction there is eifected a button insertion from the top, a jumbo cap body commensurate with the container in diametric size and having a safetyguard periphery, and further provided both visual and tactual spray-orifice orienting means, together with convenient and easy operation. The organization provided further involves relatively few pieces which may be economically molded of plastic substance, resulting in a low fabrication cost.

ice

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, similar characters of reference have been used to designate like components throughout the several views, in which:

FIG. 1 is an axial sectional View, enlarged, of the improved aerosol actuator cap construction as provided by the invention, mounted on the upper portion of a pressurized container.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the cap body of the actuator assemblage.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the cap body, taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the cap body.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the actuator button of the assemblage.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the actuator button.

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the actuator button.

PEG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line 8-2 of FIG. 1.

Referring first to FiG. l, the improved aerosol actuator cap construction as provided by the invention comprises essentially a stationary outer piece constituting a cap body 10, and an inner movable piece in the form of a button 12, which latter constitutes the valve actuator.

The button 12 is carried on a deprcssible. valve stem 14 forming part of a metering valve assemblage 16 mounted on a closure cup 18 which in turn is secured to the upper wall Zti of a container 22 adapted to hold aerosol substance under pressure. The valve stem 14 is hollow, and as is well understood, at such times that it is depressed or moved downward, the aerosol substance from the con tainer will pass upward through the bore of the stem, for discharge from the orifice portion of the depress button 12.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, the button 12 has a centrally located depending hollow boss or hub 24 adapted to frictionally receive the upper extremity of the valve stem 14 whereby the button is supported on said stem. The button 12 further has a horizontally extending rib 26 in its underside, in which a discharge channel 28 is disposed, such channel terminating at an orifice cavity 39 (see H68. 6 and 7).

In accordance with the present invention, the cap body it) and the actuator button 12 are organized and arranged in a novel manner, to produce an actuator assemblage having important features and advantages. The cap body 10 is of the jumbo type, having an outside diameter which is commensurate with that of the container on which it is carried. Such jumbo type cap body and the button 12 are so constituted as to permit insertion of the button from the top of the cap body. Further, the button and cap body are arranged to require normal actuation of the button to be effected with the aerosol device held in but one position in the hand, whereby the spray orifice is correctly oriented to discharge the aerosol spray in a direction normally away from the user.

This result is accomplished mainly by tactual means, but additionally there is provided an unmistakable visual means which also indicates the direction of the spray. The visual indication is provided by a laterally extending orifice portion of the actuator button 12, which extends to the outer periphery of the cap body it] and is recessed in the top of the body in a manner to be completely accessible for viewing.

The cap body, as in the patent above referred to, retains high peripheral portions which constitute a guard to prevent accidental actuation of the button. However, in contrast with the patented cap construction, the present organization is characterized by a relatively deep and wide hollow top portion or groove constituting a finger rest and guide, which is the tactual means requiring proper orientation of the aerosol device in order to con- 1:3 veniently depress the actuator button 12. The readily visible laterally extending orifice portion of the depress button, as well as the top insertion feature of the same, are also not found in the patented cap construction, and constitute advantages of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 5-7, the actuator button 12 is shown as having, in addition to the rib 28 in its underside, a relatively large flat orifice portion 34 which extends in a radial direction, laterally of a circular body portion 36 of the button. The orifice cavity 30 is located in the laterally extending portion 34, and there is additionally provided a depending guard or closure piece 38 below the orifice cavity 30, the purpose of which will be explained in detail below.

The peripheral wall 46 of the button 12 is shown as being cylindrical, this being a preferred configuration, although other shapes may be readily employed. The button 12 has a concave upper finger-engageable surface 42, as clearly as shown in FIG. 8.

In accordance with the invention, the button 12 is insertable in the cap body 1! from the top, and the laterally extending orifice portion 34- is recessed in the cap body and is fully visible to the user.

Referring now to FIGS. l4, the cap body is shown as comprising spaced inner and outer tubular walls 46 and 48 respectively, and comprising an expansive transverse top wall 50 connecting the upper portions of the inner and outer walls 46 and 48 to each other. The top wall 50 has a large central access opening 52 which communicates with the bore 54 of the inner tubular wall 46, to accommodate the valve actuator button 12.

For the purpose of accommodating the orifice portion 34 of the button 12, the top, inner and outer walls 50, 46 and 48 respectively of the cap body It have adjoining communicating openings 56, 58 and 60 respectively, these together constituting a notch which extends from the bore 54 of the inner wall to the outer periphery of the body structure 10. Thus the orifice portion 34 of the button 12 occupies and is movable in the communicating openings 56, 58 and 60, as may now be appreciated from an inspection of FIGS. 1, 3 and 6. As shown in these figures, the inner wall 46 has an internal detent head 64 engageable with a cooperable annular shoulder of the container closure cup 13, for the purpose of frictionally holding the actuator structure on the container. The outer tubular wall 48 of the cap body rests in an annular peripheral groove 66 in the upper wall of the container, and functions to position the actuator structure.

In accordance with the invention, the cap body 10 has in its top portion a relatively deep and wide finger notch 70 opposite the first-mentioned notch which accommodates the orifice portion 34 of the button 12. The finger notch '70 extends radially from the outer periphery of the cap body structure 10 to the actuator button 12, and is adapted to comfortably accommodate the forefinger of the hand which holds the aerosol device, thereby facilitating operation of the actuator button. Further, the button 12 is so formed, by the provision of the concave upper surface 42 thereof, as to constitute a continuation of the finger notch 70, such concave top surface of the button 12 being adapted to accommodate the ball portion of the forefinger. It is preferred that the top surface of the button 12 and the adjoining surfaces of the cap body 10 which form the finger notch 70 be substantially flush with each other whereby they together form in effect a single expansive notch which provides a convenient finger rest for the forefinger of the hand which holds the aerosol device, and which greatly facilitates the actuation or depressing of the button 12.

It will be understood that the inner tubular wall 46 constitutes a guide for the actuator button 12, confining the movement of the latter to vertical directions.

' It will now be seen that the depending piece 38 of the orifice portion 34 of the actuator button 12 occupies space directly inside of the opening 60 in the outer wall 48 of the cap body 1%, and constitutes a closure for such opening, especially when the actuator button 12 is in its raised, inoperative position as shown in FIG. 1. The side edges of the openings 5% and 6th in the cap body 10 constitute guides for the button 12 by virtue of their engagement with the side surfaces of the orifice portion 34 of the button.

As thus constituted above, the cap body 10 of the actuator construction may be readily economically molded of plastic substance such as polyethylene or similar formulations, and the same is true of the actuator button 12. The cap construction is seen to involve relatively few separate pieces, there being two pieces in the illustrated embodiment. However, the invention is not limited to a cap construction constituted of two pieces, and the scope of the invention is more properly determined by the appended claims. Without departing from the spirit of the invention, the actuator construction may be constituted of a greater or a lesser number of pieces; in connection with the latter, it is considered that by suitable molding techniques and slight modifications within the scope of the claims the button 12 and the cap body 10 may be made integral with each other and connected by a thin fiexible web.

It will now be appreciated that the aerosol actuator construction as above set forth constitutes a novel combination of jumbo type cap body structure and a topinsertable actuator button, the body structure having a relatively large or expansive top surface provided with a deep finger notch and the button having a laterally projecting orifice portion which is recessed in the cap body whereby there is provided both visual and tactual means for automatically effecting a correct orientation of the device when it is to be placed in use. The cap body is commensurate with the diameter of the container, and has guard portions preventing accidental actuation or depression of the valve button. The arrangement further provides for convenient and quick actuation of the valve, to discharge the aerosol substance in the desired manner, and the construction is capable of being economically manufactured and produced.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A closure and actuator construction for an aerosol dispenser comprising, in combination:

(a) a hollow body structure adapted for side discharge of the aerosol substance and having spaced inner and outer vertically extending tubular walls and an expansive, transverse top Wall connecting the upper portions of said inner and outer walls to each other, said tubular walls being disposed with their axes upright, the lower portion of the outer wall being characterized by a thin-walled upright section at the discharge side of the body structure, said upright section being spaced and separated from an opposite portion of the inner wall by a substantial distance whereby there is an appreciable intervening air space therebetween, said thin-walled upright section being located generally at an appreciably lower level than that of the opposite portion of the inner wall,

(11) said top wall having an access opening communicating with the bore of the said inner wall, to accommodate a valve actuator button,

(c) said top wall, inner and outer walls having adjoining communicating openings which together constitute a notch extending from the bore of the inner wall to the outer periphery of the body structure,

(d) a valve actuator button movable in the bore of the inner wall and having a top wall engageable by a finger to depress the button, said top wall of the button being accessible through the access opening in the top wall of the body structure,

(e) said actuator button having a laterally-projecting (a) the body structure has in its top portion a finger discharge orifice portion disposed and movable in the said notch of the body structure, the end of the projecting orifice portion having a discharge orifice to provide for lateral discharge of aerosol substance notch disposed opposite the said first-mentioned notch and extending radially from the outer periphcry of the body structure to the actuator button, said finger notch being adapted to accommodate the with respect to the body structure, and further having a depending guard apron located below the discharge orifice and extending a substantial distance downward from innermost parts of the laterallyprojecting orifice portion whereby the latter has 10 high and low under surfaces, said guard apron being located radially outward of said opposite inner wall portion and being movable along the inside of the said upright section of the outer body wall and in the said intervening air space, in closely spaced relation to the said upright outer wall section, said guard apron having a width commensurate with forefinger and facilitating operation of the actuator button,

(b) said actuator button has a hollow top face flush with and constituting a continuation of the finger notch, said face being adapted to accommodate the ball portion of the forefinger.

3. A closure and actuator construction as in claim 1,

wherein:

(a) the depending apron of the actuator button has a depression on its said outer face below the discharge orifice, and

(b) the discharge orifice is disposed. at an angle to the width of said notch and preventing free access direct spray downward through the said depression.

from the exterior to the said interventing air space, 4. A closure and actuator construction as in claim 2,

the said apron and outermost part of the orifice porwherein:

tion providing an outer face the upper half of which (a) the body structure has a curved upper wall slopsubstantially wholly contains said discharge orifice, ing downward from the bore of the said inner wall the said high undersurface of the orifice portion and constituting the bottom of the said finger notch. being above the said opposite portion of the inner wall to provide clearance therefor when the button is depressed,

(f) said actuator button and orifice portion being re- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 24,555 Abplanalp Oct. 28, 1958 movable as a unlt from the body structure upward 2,887,273 Anderson et 1 May 19 1959 past the said top wall of the structure. 3 00 510 Sagarin O t, 31, 1961 2. A closure and actuator construction as in claim 1, 3,058,626 Hibb et a1, Oct. 16, 1962 wherein: 3,075,709 Green Jan. 29, 1963 

1. A CLOSURE AND ACTUATOR CONSTRUCTION FOR AN AEROSOL DISPENSER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) A HOLLOW BODY STRUCTURE ADAPTED FOR SIDE DISCHARGE OF THE AEROSOL SUBSTANCE AND HAVING SPACED INNER AND OUTER VERTICALLY EXTENDING TUBULAR WALLS AND AN EXPANSIVE, TRANSVERSE TOP WALL CONNECTING THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID INNER AND OUTER WALLS TO EACH OTHER, SAID TUBULAR WALLS BEING DISPOSED WITH THEIR AXES UPRIGHT, THE LOWER PORTION OF THE OUTER WALL BEING CHARACTERIZED BY A THIN-WALLED UPRIGHT SECTION AT THE DISCHARGE SIDE OF THE BODY STRUCTURE, SAID UPRIGHT SECTION BEING SPACED AND SEPARATED FROM AN OPPOSITE PORTION OF THE INNER WALL BY A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE WHEREBY THERE IS AN APPRECIABLE INTERVENING AIR SPACE THEREBETWEEN, SAID THIN-WALLED UPRIGHT SECTION BEING LOCATED GENERALLY AT AN APPRECIABLY LOWER LEVEL THAN THAT OF THE OPPOSITE PORTION OF THE INNER WALL, (B) SAID TOP WALL HAVING AN ACCESS OPENING COMMUNICATING WITH THE BORE OF THE SAID INNER WALL, TO ACCOMMODATE A VALVE ACTUATOR BUTTON, (C) SAID TOP WALL, INNER AND OUTER WALLS HAVING ADJOINING COMMUNICATING OPENINGS WHICH TOGETHER CONSTITUTE A NOTCH EXTENDING FROM THE BORE OF THE INNER WALL TO THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF THE BODY STRUCTURE, (D) A VALVE ACTUATOR BUTTON MOVABLE IN THE BORE OF THE INNER WALL AND HAVING A TOP WALL ENGAGEABLE BY A FINGER TO DEPRESS THE BUTTON, SAID TOP WALL OF THE BUTTON BEING ACCESSIBLE THROUGH THE ACCESS OPENING IN THE TOP WALL OF THE BODY STRUCTURE, 